Indians told cow urine is health drink

It has been claimed that cow urine can protect against ailments such as fever or stomach problemsANINDITO MUKHERJEE/BLOOMBERG/GETTY

A government committee in northern India has proposed bottling cow’s urine for sale as a health drink.

Run by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of the prime minister Narendra Modi, the ayurvedic medical body in the state of Uttar Pradesh has issued a business proposal to expand its range of bovine health products, “to make cow urine easily available to the common public”.

“We will promote cow urine as a health-giving drink . . . Drinking 10ml to 20ml cow urine daily will act as a preventive against seasonal diseases, like fever, cough and stomach-related ailments,” said Prakash Chandra Saxena, superintendent at the government-run Ayurveda College and Hospital in the northern city of Pilibhit.

Hindus believe the cow to be sacred but hardliners have…

Want to read more?

Subscribe now and get unlimited digital access on web and our smartphone and tablet apps, free for your first month.